comment

As the holiday season approaches police are investigating four different incidents of thefts of packages from doorsteps and expect more "porch pirates" to be on the prowl.

The thefts took place between Oct. 18 and Nov. 3 at four homes in Greenburgh, said Lt. Kobie Powell with the Greenburgh Police Department.

Due to the thefts, Powell and the department are urging residents to consider purchasing a security/video surveillance system to deter thieves and to take steps to safeguard their packages.

The first incident took place on Thursday, Oct. 18, around 2:30 p.m. on Eastern Road in Hartsdale, after FedEx delivered a Pixel 3 (cell phone) and a cell phone case. Just four minutes after the delivery, an unknown male removed the package from the property, Powell said.

The incident was captured by a surveillance camera. The suspect is believed to be a white male, possibly Latino, with a full beard, wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt, blue jeans, and a black jacket. The suspect also has a tattoo on his left hand.

He fled the area in a gray sedan.

The second incident occurred around 11 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 2, after two packages containing three pairs of shoes totaling approximately $220.00 were delivered to an address on Joyce Road in Hartsdale. Shortly after a man was caught on video surveillance as he removed the packages from the property, Powell said.

The suspect is believed to be a white male with a beard, wearing a black jacket, white t-shirt, and jeans. He walked up to the doorstep and took the two packages containing shoes. The unknown male party covered his face with his hand. It is unknown if he got into a vehicle.

The next theft took place around 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 3, a package containing two face masks, a pet carrier, one Nintendo controller charger, an iPad case, a beret and, 10 soup bowls was delivered to an address on Florence Avenue in the Town of Greenburgh.

A short time later an unknown black male can be seen walking to the front porch and taking the package. The incident was captured by a surveillance camera. The suspect is an older black male, wearing a red baseball cap, black winter coat, grey hoodie, and grey sweatpants.

The last incident took place around 4:11 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 3 when the U.S. Post Office delivered a package containing clothing to an address on Longdale Avenue in the Town of Greenburgh. At 4:20 PM an unknown male is observed walking to the front door and walking off with the package, Powell said.

The incident was captured by a surveillance camera. This suspect is believed to be the same suspect who stole the package on Florence Avenue at 2:30 p.m.

"The Greenburgh Police Department would like to remind and encourage its residents to consider taking steps to safeguard their delivered packages," said Powell. "Some suggested measures being, when possible, to schedule deliveries for when someone will be home to receive them, require a signature upon delivery, ask a neighbor to watch for and secure packages, have packages delivered to your workplace (if permitted), and to utilize tracking options or a pickup location."

Anyone with information that may aid the investigation is asked to contact the Greenburgh Police Detective Division at 914-989-1725.